I Couldn’t Have Sponsored ENDSARS Protest After Demonstrators Made Me A Target – Bola Tinubu

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), has denied being a sponsor of the ongoing protest against police brutality and sundry issues of bad governance by Nigerians in the country.

Tunde Rahman, Tinubu’s spokesperson, in a statement on Saturday, said the APC chieftain “could not have sponsored such a protest where he too has been labeled a target by the organisers”.

“There is a need to set the facts and record straight for fear that such a fake story may be taken on its face value by some unwary and gullible persons,” Rahman noted.

“Asiwaju Tinubu could not have sponsored the #EndSARS protest that has blocked one of the main entries into and out of Lagos and one of the economic arteries of the Lagos State Government.

“He could also not have sponsored such a protest where he too has been labeled a target by the organisers.

“Secondly, whereas Asiwaju Tinubu believes in the right of Nigerians to freedom of expression, assembly, and protest where and when necessary, he has always canvassed the need for people to explore peaceful channels to ventilate their views and demands.

“He believes the #EndSARS protesters have made their demands, which the Federal Government is studying. Like most Nigerians, Asiwaju believes that SARS’ brutality and untoward conduct against innocent youths and other Nigerians have gone on for too long and that security outfit ought to be disbanded as demanded by the protesters.”

The ex-Lagos governor’s spokesperson further noted that Tinubu, however, believes the protesters ought to exercise restraint to enable the government, who has since yielded to some of their demands, to dialogue and allow for reforms.

“Asiwaju Tinubu believes it’s now time for our youths to wait, exercise restraint for dialogue and reform to commence,” he said.

“It is therefore the height of illogicality to ascribe the sponsorship of the protest to Asiwaju.

“The sponsors of this fake news forget that the protest is so widespread and cuts across the country.”